Training

We have 4 weeks left until our triathlon!! The last couple of weeks, I have felt overwhelmed with training. I have been extra tired in the early mornings making it very difficult to get up - which in turn made me a little grumpy about training.

Last Saturday I biked for just under an hour - probably about 12 or 13 miles, but wiped out on the last mile. Before the fall, however, I was feeling pretty good about the biking. I wasn't feeling like I was going to die or anything.

I ran 4 miles on Monday and felt great afterward - if it wasn't for the fact that I needed to get home to feed Daphne, I might have been able to go a little farther.

I biked 6 miles on Wednesday morning - very easy ride (seriously never thought I would say that considering the first time I rode 4 miles I really thought I was going to die and I never wanted to get on a bike again). Then I swam about 1/3 of a mile in the afternoon. The swim was hard because I hadn't taken the time to swim in about 3 weeks - oops. The weather has been unseasonable cool so I didn't really want to swim in the cold water. It sort of took my breath away. I felt like I would never finish and that was while I could still touch! Now I know that I REALLY need to make the effort to swim a couple of times each week until the race.

Friday I swam about 1/3 of a mile. It went a little better today. The one thing about swimming in the lake is that if you are tired and out of breath, you can't rest. I still have to float or tread water - not much of a breather.

Today, Jenny (my friend from church who is also doing the tri) and I rode the 12 mile route of the race. We had a few issues - my chain came off and got stuck. STUCK. Another biker (maybe cyclist is the better name for him) was riding by and stopped to help us. He even struggled to get the chain free, but finally had success and we were off again. The bike I am using is a little older so the gears are a little strange. I'm glad to actually know the route of the race - there are some KILLER hills! Seriously, we were CRAWLING at one point. When we finished the ride we ran for about 20 minutes. I was tired but not dying - which I can't believe. Although, swimming first - which is the hardest part at this point - may totally change things.

I also need to add that my sister came over today to stay with the girls while Kevin and I trained. Actually, Norah and Lucy were going to come and we were going to alternate swimming while they played, but as soon as they heard Alison was coming overto stay with Daphne, they both wanted to stay home. They kept her busy and entertained. She did some VERY girlie things and Norah and Lucy tried to talk her into all kinds of stuff. They tried to convince her that I let them use my make-up - all of it. Ha! Thanks, Alison for hanging out with the girls - they had a blast!

I don't feel quite so overwhelmed now and I know if I just stay consistent with my training, I should be fine. After today, I am getting a little excited about the race. If nothing else, it will be a great experience and has been a great way to get back in shape after having Daphne!!

Swim Lessons, Homeschool Convention, and Triathlon Training

I feel like we have had a MILLION things going on over the last couple of weeks.

Norah and Lucy started swim lessons last week. While the first day or two didn't go so well with Lucy - they are both doing great now and loving it. I think I am going to sign them up for another session in a few weeks.

Max came into town this week. He had a booth for Foreign Language Friends at the St. Charles Homeschool Convention. Kevin stayed home on Tuesday and we had our babysitters come over on Wednesday so I could help Max at the convention both days.

My training for the triathlon is going well for the most part. I haven't been swimming as often as I like, but the running and biking on right on target. Some friends of ours found me a triathlon bike to use - it is amazing how different it feels from my mountain bike. Last week on my mountain bike, I rode 6 miles in about 40 minutes. On Saturday, I rode 7 1/2 miles in about 40 minutes - not bad. Although I think I have a heavy head because my neck was so sore by the time I finished riding. Maybe my helmet is too heavy and since I am leaning really far forward - it just feels strange! I have been consistently running 3 miles - so I am ready for that leg of the race. I just need to make for of an effort to swim.

Now that Daphne is rolling both ways - she is all over the place. I lay her on a blanket - which is really pointless because she won't stay on it. She is my earliest mover - for sure. Even though Norah could roll over, she didn't very often and Lucy rolled over later than Norah.

I will try to post pictures soon!

Triathlon

Kevin and I decided to participate in a triathlon.  Neither of us have ever done this before - Kevin has run a number of half-marathons and a full marathon.  I have run a half marathon, multiple 10k's and 5k's.  We both would like a new challenge so we opted for a sprint triathlon!  It isn't until the end of August, so we have plenty of time to train.  

I started exercising the beginning of March - mostly a run/walk combo.  I also went to see my trainer and started strength training about the same time.  I have never been much of a cyclist - I really have only biked more than a couple of miles a handful of times.  We have a 4 mile loop around our neighborhood that I told Kevin I was going to do once or twice.  Kevin suggested I start with completing the loop once and then see how I feel.  I also want to try to run at least a mile after each time I bike - so I can get used to the feeling of going from biking to running.  

So I started out on my 4-mile loop feeling pretty good.  About 1 1/2 miles in I start going uphill - a big hill - I can hardly pedal.  Seriously, I thought I might have to get off my bike and walk it 2 1/2 miles home!!  I considered turning around, but figured since I was almost halfway I should just keep going.  I'm going up and down a number of hills - each time I go up, I am regretting my decision to bike ride and each time I go down a hill, I think "Okay, maybe this isn't so bad.  I can totally do this."  I get close to home and my calves and my behind are killing me!  

Now remember I thought I might try to do the loop twice - yeah right, not gonna happen this time.  Oh, right, I also thought I might run a mile.  Ha!  I put my bike in the garage and start to jog down the driveway.  My legs totally feel like jello!  I proceed to run a couple of minutes - I seriously don't think I can go any farther but now I have to get home.  Thankfully, I only ran about 3 minutes away from the house so I run 3 minutes back (it wasn't even close to a mile). 

When I walk in the door, I said to Kevin, "What have I done?"  I can't believe I paid $90 to do a triathlon.  I just might die in the process!!  (Go ahead and call me dramatic).