Then and Now

All the great triathlon action over the last few days made me let out a big SIGH about my own training.   It has been a routine for me over the last 8 years to train and participate in at least one triathlon each year.   Nothing fast or fancy, but at least I give others hope that if I can do one - anyone can do one.   My body knows it should be doing something - any kind of training right now - it has a good memory.

I looked back at last year's training log to see what I would normally be coaching myself to do.  Here was a typical entry for a few days this time of year, (with about 8 weeks to Big Creek Triathlon):

• Bike: 25-30 mile ride
• Run: 6-9 mile run
• Brick: 15-20 miles on bike and then 2-4 mile run
• Swim: Couple 1+ mile swims
• Some strength training
• Some stretching

That was then.   Here is an excerpt of my training now:

• Bike:  I think it is hanging in the garage.   I did see a lot of great riders at the triathlon.
• Run:  I chased kids all over the house and yard.  Couple sprints when I ran from the pool to the house after being stung by a bee and again when my daughter did as well.
• Brick:  I rode in the car and then ran errands.  Did this workout 8 times.
• Swim:  About 7 hours in the pool with one or two kids hanging on me.
• Strength:  Lugging 11 loads of laundry up and down many levels and stairs. 
• Stretching:  This post...

Don't worry - it was very hot for all that training I did this weekend, but I stayed fueled and hydrated with root beer floats, Diet Coke and a few cold beers.   Ah...gotta' love a good workout.

After this quick look back, my body is screaming for me to get back in the action and give up this promise to not train for any big events this year.   The devil side of my subconscious is saying, "come on, one little race, maybe that little sprint triathlon at the end of August....come on....you probably wouldn't even have to train....not much....you can squeeze in it...please...."

The whole running, triathlon thing is just in my blood.

And, as an added bonus, I learned a new language.  My 3 year old daughter morphed into a baby dolphin with all our swimming and only speaks in squeaks.   No training can replace the experience of 2 days straight of dolphin - opps, forgive me -- BABY dolphin language.

Photo of sad face on Flickr by Steven Pam

Comments

[Marcus]

Stretching: This post.....

hehe... that cracked me up. :) Muscle has memory - turn it on and you'll be fine.

[Heather]

Amy - I love it and can totally relate! The last time I completed a 6-8 mile run was before giving birth the FIRST time. Now, my workouts consist of running to keep my 2 year old from attacking the newborn and doing lunges multiple times each evening to pick up Matchbox cars, Little People, and other left-behind toys from getting underfoot of anyone walking through the family room.

Love the blog - congrats to you and Tom on this!

[degan]

LOL, that's awesome!