My tri for one

Yesterday I went swimming.  It was a failure.  The water was rough, I was not having fun.  It sucked.  I swam three laps and stopped after each one.  It was a total of 0.24 miles.  I took me about 20 minutes.  I left feeling very discouraged.  I left thinking that I can make it through the mini tri on the 13th but there is no way that I can make it through 6 laps for the Aug. race.  I stopped by my mom's on the way to class.  She made me a yummy bacon breakfast while I looked up swim lessons.  The Y near me does have adult swim lessons.

Today, I went back for round two.  I told myself that I was going to do two laps without stopping if the water was calm.  I got there and it was calm.  I jumped in and the frantic turtle* was off.  I tried to stay calm and just go.  I swam three laps without stopping. When I go for a bike ride I go for over an hour, when I run I run longer than 30 minutes.  Maybe I just need to go.  It will take me longer than 20.   I told myself that I have to have faith that I can do this.  My body will go.  I got out and was sitting on the dock I thought that I needed to keep going.  I would get back in and do 3 or 4 more laps, which is the Aug distance and if I needed to stop I would stop.  I got back in and did four more laps without stopping.  The Aug distance is .46 miles (750meters).   I went 0.56 (901meters).  The frantic turtle may not be pretty or fast but just might get the job done.  I showered off because the water was REALLY muddy after all this rain.

On my way home I was thinking that my tri shorts came in the mail yesterday and I haven't been on my bike in a while...  I got home changed and headed out.  I started out and it didn't feel good.  I was struggling. I started to question if I should have tried to bike after drastically increasing my swimming.  I just said," Katie your body will do it.  These first few miles might not feel good, but your body will do it".  It was kind of a revelation.  Not every mile will feel good but my body will do it.  I figured if it still felt bad after the first two miles I could turn around.  I rode 18.1 miles.  The Aug distance is 17.7.  I got home and ate breakfast and was itchin' to go for a run.

I changed again and went to the gym at school, it was raining again, and ran 4.1 miles.  The Aug distance is 3.1.   I completed my first tri today.

Tonight we are going to a Fourth of July party.  Much of my brother's family will be there.  I'm looking forward to it.  I plan to eat oysters and go to bed early.

*My dad joined me for a swim one day and later told my mom that I looked like a frantic baby turtle learning to swim.    Real encouraging.  He also told her that he wasn't sure if I could make it.  Well, now i think I just might!

Poorly organized race....but fun family night out

Saturday night at the end on June one could plan on it being warm.  It also happened to be humid.  My dad and I ran a 5k while the wife, the mother, an aunt, a cousin, and a niece all walked the I mile course.  It was nice to be there all together doing something fun, different, and active.  A while back when signing up for the race I asked dad if he wanted to run together or each run our own race.  He said he would run my pace with me.  It was nice.  The bad thing was that they had one young guy maybe 14yo running the aid station.  He didn't have waters prepared when I past the water station either time.  When I was finished my mother and aunt, both nurses, seemed to be a bit worried.  They said that my face was purple and the tip of my nose was white, too much circulation and not enough.  They said I looked like I was in distress.  Dad did a great job he finished close on my heels.

Yesterday was the wife and my 1 year wedding anniversary.  W went for a two mile walk in the woods, did some garden maintaince, made a cake and went out to dinner.

Today, it is raining. I got up erly to go swimming but it was storming.  I packed my clothes and heading to the gym after class.  I struggled for the first 1.5 to 2 miles but then felt like I could have run all day.  I wonder why it is taking longer to find my stride.  Now it is raining again and it is the perfect weather to go barefoot trail running.  A cooling rain but the air temp is still warm you you don't get cold.  The ground is soft.  I'm now debating going up to the park for a second quick run or taking a long hot bath.