Last fall as I turned 39 I felt this need to somehow mark 40 with an athletic accomplishment that said I was going into this next decade with enthusiasm, power and strength. I am still young and vital and can accomplish anything I put my mind to. This coming triathlon was the result of my need to do something big for 40. But I am over it.
I am ready to embrace 40. I am ready to be old. Bring on the wrinkles. Bring on the pre-menapausal symptoms, colonoscopy and mamograms. Buy me a pair of cheaters and lets call it a day. I don't need to enter 40 young and vital. I want to enter 40 slow and sluggish. I don't want to be a young mom of a 5 year old, I want to be mistaken for her grandmother. I am over it. Please let me move on. Why am I doing this triathlon? WHY???
Today as I ran 3.1 miles immediately following a 45 minute cycle class those were the thoughts going through my head. Please let me out of this triathlon. My knee hurt most of the 40 minutes and I walked at least half or better of the time. Yet I finished, ran through the digital finish line, and I am still functioning now back at home. So I must be ready. All this training is apparently doing something. In one week I will be flying down to Atlanta and 2 days later it will be over. My training seems to be doing its job so I just need to keep doing what I have been doing for months. I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and get the job done.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
For the Bible tells me so
In my bible I have been reading through the book of Hebrews lately and recently came across this verse in 12:12, "Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees." There it is, the bible wants me to go to body pump.
After 5 months of twice a week weight lifting class I don't feel nearly as feeble or weak, although I am resisting increasing my weights, and I really can see a change in my body. My arms and shoulders have definition and although there is still a lovely layer of fat over my thighs they don't seem to spread nearly as wide when I am sitting down. And I seem to have re-discovered my hip bones which went missing after the birth of Jake and I didn't think I would ever see them again.
Of course the bible is also full of commands to run. Shortly before the verse on strengthening our arms and knees it tells us to, "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Paul also talks about running in other places. So it is apparently a God ordained exercise to run. And I really do find it relaxing to just plod along. Intervals and speed work make me think. I really love to just get stuck in a slow, simple pace and be in that moment listening to the world around me, contemplating my life and hearing God in while present in that space.
Unfortunately my body is stubbornly refusing to enjoy these biblical exercises with me. My knee continues to give me trouble when I run. I think I will be able to get through the upcoming triathlon but I see walking and biking on my summer plans rather than running. And while my arms look great my shoulder is bugging me lately. Luckily it doesn't feel like an injury, just an over worked muscle, so I should be fine in a few days.
I haven't come across a biking reference but Peter does swim into shore from the boat when Jesus appears to them after his death. Can we read into that? Either way I am committed to doing both along with the running in just over 4 weeks.
I feel good about the training I have done in each individual area but think it might be time to do 2 things. Number 1 combine a couple and number 2, get outside. Both are tricky because they require either child care or doing my workouts early in the morning or after dinner. A change in routine. I have gotten used to my schedule of running, swimming and biking on various mornings and Isabelle has made friends and enjoyed the classes they offer for her while I am taking my classes. Change can be fun or hard. I suppose it is all in the attitude. Having completed other responsibilities in my life last weekend I am telling myself this can be my focus for the month. I am ready to take it to the next level.
As I am getting tired of the training and want to quit it is so nice to have this looming to keep me getting out of bed. I have been telling myself for the last few weeks that I just have to get through this and I can stop. As if I don't have to ever exercise after June 5th. I can just go to jello. Well in a weak moment yesterday realizing I had to keep going, I signed up for the "Lazy Man Triathlon" at the Y. Starting June 1st I will be completing a full length tri over the course of 5 weeks. I will swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles and run/walk 26.2 miles. As I have broken it out into weekly mileage I can see that it really isn't significantly more than I am doing right now for training. So now I just have to maintain through to July 15. THEN I can quit and let my body turn to jello. Right?
If you want to join me on the Lazy Man Tri feel free. I will get a t-shirt through the Y but you can do it on your own with me. This event is just my style, there is no competition except with yourself and the follow through needed to stay on track and complete the milage on time. I will try to post my weekly milage so you can all keep me accountable to staying on track.
Keep flying everyone.
Maverick Out.
After 5 months of twice a week weight lifting class I don't feel nearly as feeble or weak, although I am resisting increasing my weights, and I really can see a change in my body. My arms and shoulders have definition and although there is still a lovely layer of fat over my thighs they don't seem to spread nearly as wide when I am sitting down. And I seem to have re-discovered my hip bones which went missing after the birth of Jake and I didn't think I would ever see them again.
Of course the bible is also full of commands to run. Shortly before the verse on strengthening our arms and knees it tells us to, "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Paul also talks about running in other places. So it is apparently a God ordained exercise to run. And I really do find it relaxing to just plod along. Intervals and speed work make me think. I really love to just get stuck in a slow, simple pace and be in that moment listening to the world around me, contemplating my life and hearing God in while present in that space.
Unfortunately my body is stubbornly refusing to enjoy these biblical exercises with me. My knee continues to give me trouble when I run. I think I will be able to get through the upcoming triathlon but I see walking and biking on my summer plans rather than running. And while my arms look great my shoulder is bugging me lately. Luckily it doesn't feel like an injury, just an over worked muscle, so I should be fine in a few days.
I haven't come across a biking reference but Peter does swim into shore from the boat when Jesus appears to them after his death. Can we read into that? Either way I am committed to doing both along with the running in just over 4 weeks.
I feel good about the training I have done in each individual area but think it might be time to do 2 things. Number 1 combine a couple and number 2, get outside. Both are tricky because they require either child care or doing my workouts early in the morning or after dinner. A change in routine. I have gotten used to my schedule of running, swimming and biking on various mornings and Isabelle has made friends and enjoyed the classes they offer for her while I am taking my classes. Change can be fun or hard. I suppose it is all in the attitude. Having completed other responsibilities in my life last weekend I am telling myself this can be my focus for the month. I am ready to take it to the next level.
As I am getting tired of the training and want to quit it is so nice to have this looming to keep me getting out of bed. I have been telling myself for the last few weeks that I just have to get through this and I can stop. As if I don't have to ever exercise after June 5th. I can just go to jello. Well in a weak moment yesterday realizing I had to keep going, I signed up for the "Lazy Man Triathlon" at the Y. Starting June 1st I will be completing a full length tri over the course of 5 weeks. I will swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles and run/walk 26.2 miles. As I have broken it out into weekly mileage I can see that it really isn't significantly more than I am doing right now for training. So now I just have to maintain through to July 15. THEN I can quit and let my body turn to jello. Right?
If you want to join me on the Lazy Man Tri feel free. I will get a t-shirt through the Y but you can do it on your own with me. This event is just my style, there is no competition except with yourself and the follow through needed to stay on track and complete the milage on time. I will try to post my weekly milage so you can all keep me accountable to staying on track.
Keep flying everyone.
Maverick Out.
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