Triwomen Kick Off the Season
Several of my swim buddies and I belong to a group called Triwomen, a group of ladies who volunteer their time and put together a fabulous training season for female triathletes. Every January they bring together a group of girls and women (14 – 70’s) who want to complete sprint triathlons. Now for those of you who have completed an Ironman or two a sprint Triathlon may seem like nothing for me the 62-year-old anti-athlete it’s a big deal.
This group has all types of free activities for members of the group (no membership fees) and they pretty much start in January with the goal of having members ready for August (Jersey Girl) and September (Iron Girl) events. They have swim clinics, riding clinics and running clinics. Any money donated to the group or realized from the sale of Triwomen gear is donated to Breast Cancer research. It’s a win win situation! They have taken many women from beginner to triathlete in less than a year and have lots of finishers to show for it. So I’m in.
Must overcome fear of the bike! Stay tuned.
More Training Challenges
Well for those of you not living in the northeast, we are having a bit of a snow.
My yard and the birdies that eat there
So after an insane visit to the supermarket with the Armageddon shoppers. I came home to drop groceries and head to the pool. Haven’t been in the water since last Thursday. Well I received a message that the pool is still down and that the reopening date is sketchy. OMG, now what? I am so bad with exercising in the house and my other municipal pool alternative is not as convenient. On top of that it is now 11 degrees and dropping so outside exercise won’t be fun either. I have to make an alternate plan and stick to it. Not sure yet but I will have to get up and do it tomorrow! What do you do when your training schedule is interrupted?
Iron Girl Registration …….Done!
So okay this is a sprint triathlon here in New Jersey in September. I registered last year but my very interesting health issues caused me to lose focus and then my training failed. I will not be daunted this year. I paid my money and am determined to make it this year. For those of you that don’t know what a sprint triathlon is, it is short distances.This year the website says the swim is 1/3 of a mile (1/2 in the past) 15 mile ride (longer than last year) and 3 mile run. I am still freaked out about the bike part but I joined HbWomen a riding group affiliated with Hilltop Bicycles in Summit and Cranford New Jersey. When they schedule beginners rides I will be there. I’m even buying a bike in the spring. Of course the knees don’t run but they can still walk and that’s what I’ll be doing. So it’s done. I’m even thinking about a second one.
Training Flexibility
I’m not very flexible in my thinking. Today was a pool day. I had a lot to do so I made sure that I got there soon after the 9:30 am opening. When I got out of my car Wonda was coming out of the gate and she told me the pool was closed due to engineering issues. What the heck. I got back in my car and headed home. For me this meant no exercise today because I was going to go on with my day and that didn’t include an alternate exercise plan.
Half way home I decided to go to the park and walk. It was about 35 degrees (Fahrenheit) Not too cold. I’m a walker not a jogger/runner so I have to go some before I get warm. Anyway I still had time since I would have been in the pool. So I went to the park. Not my best walk, just about 2 1/2 miles but it was something.
I have a goal and that’s to be comfortable in my fall 2014 Triathlon. Training starts now and if I can’t do one thing maybe I can do another. No swim but can I walk and eventually ride? Sure I can. I have to be flexible and just do it!
What are the best Goggles?
This blog has taken a turn and probably this year I will be spending a lot of time on my athletic activities. Hope I don’t lose some of you. Anyway who knew that there were different types of goggles for different types of swims. Okay so some people knew but not me. In my new Swimmer magazine there is a goggle review article. Apparently some come off when you dive or do a fast flip turn (not issues for me) or when you’re swimming a fast race. Good grief. My goal is to get goggles that don’t fill with water or sit too close to my large eyeballs. You don’t want to think about them once you start to swim. The beauties listed below Speedo F3 Elite lists for $75.00! Everything has its price.
Gratitude Is In the Eye of the Beholder
I call my Sunday walk my gratitude walk. I am so glad that I am able to do it. Today I lost count of my laps picked a number and continued. Ran into a friend and then I was truly off. I was aiming for my usual 3 miles.
Not bad for the 62 year old!!
February Challenge – Cupids Chase 5K
It’s done. Signed up for the Cupid Chase 5K in New Jersey on February 8, 2014. This 5K supports people with disabilities and is fundraiser. Donations can be made in my name (Karen Hilliard Johnson) at the Community Options, Inc website. All gifts are welcomed. If you’re local come cheer on participants or join in. The website says runners, joggers, walkers and those with wheels are welcomed! This is my next goal for the year. I’m praying for moderate weather but will do it short of bitter cold!
Stamina is Earned Daily
For a variety of reasons and a long story I was out of the pool more than I was in over the last eight months. Now I am by no means an elite swimmer. My stroke isn’t pretty and could use some tweaking but in June I was swimming a half mile every outing in my local pool. Now I am struggling to do fifty yards. I will get it back but my point is that you lose conditioning very rapidly. Training must be consistent. Not necessarily grueling or painful but consistent. The first meeting of TriWomen will be next week and then my mind will really be focused on being ready for the triathlon season. I was unable to do the Irongirl sprint Triathlon this past September but I am signing up again. I am actually thinking about signing up for more than one. I know that I will have to follow a strict training regiment to regain and keep the necessary stamina.
This Year Is About Duty To Self
I don’t mean to ignore those that depend on me like my Mom and remaining Uncle in Georgia and Aunt in New York. I just mean that I have to prioritize my time and goals this year. My husband and our sons are grown-ups with their own agenda’s. I have to focus on mine. Henry Ford said “If you think you can or you can’t you are right either way”
I think I have tremendous reasoning capabilities. Generally though I can find more reasons why I can’t and not can. I have to change that thought process so that I can do things this year. I want to sign up for this 5K for next month. I may have mentioned it. Well I spend time every day saying suppose it’s really cold. I walk slowly and may take too long. I wonder if anyone else in my crew will do it. On and on. Wow! The power of negative thinking. Got to turn that around. This morning my friend Roz and three of her friends went to the park. The two ladies ran and the two men walked. It was 5 degrees! So what was I saying? Oh yeah “If you think you can or you can’t you are right either way”
The Challenge of Being Still!
I did make it to my Weight Watchers meeting in spite of the cold (around 8 degrees) in New Jersey but was very happy to get home. Felt guilty for no work out again today. I am not good with working out at home and generally skip it if I can’t leave the house to do it. Anyway I decided to stay in. Anxiety comes after a few hours.
I had to remember being patient this past summer and appreciating every thing, every day. I had work to do on my computer for the next semester and of course there is my knitting/crochet but somehow I am restless after a few hours. Perhaps this is a good time to meditate, be still and take in my surroundings. I have a warm home, a fire in the fireplace, good food and family. There are people who would be happy with one of those things.
First Steps the Hardest 