The Beach Change - always a good time.
We use our core muscles every day. To stand up, to stay upright, to move forward, to look around. We use the little muscles deep inside to balance and to laugh. A strong core is essential for everyone, not just those of us becoming Iron, but lately I’m finding that I need to use those small, deep-seated balancing muscles more and more as the weeks of training turn into months.
I signed up for this event with the understanding that “2013 is the year of the Ironman.” I would push other things like volunteering and vacations aside to focus on this single goal. I have that luxury. My job is stable with consistent hours, I don’t have children or encumbrances on my off-hours. This is the perfect moment.
Funny though, non-Iron life didn’t stop when I made that decision. As committed as I am, there is still juggling to do.
Balance doesn’t mean leaning forward, eyes straight ahead, 45-degree tilt toward the goal. Balance means twitching all those small muscles back and forth, a little here to compensate for a gust of wind, a little there to adjust for uneven terrain, an unending process of give and take.
In a normal week, I am at work or training or home resting. That kind of week means saying no to other options. This week, I said yes more than no. I said yes to building relationships and experiencing the world and taking chances.
I said yes to lunch with new project group members at work instead of reading my (very interesting!) book at my desk.
I said yes to a teammate’s invitation to dinner even though I was tired and worried about a late night.
I said yes to a date, even though it meant skipping a workout (and even though I don’t think he’ll get another one).
I said yes to an event that involved public dancing in the streets in daylight because I believe in the cause, even if the cause made me cry in the streets as well.
Core strength is all about pulling back when you feel yourself leaning too far. This was a YES week, but it may be time to recharge. In the name of balance (and mental health), I may say a few more NO’s next week, and spend some quality time on my own, and refocusing on my goal.
My core is getting so strong! Maybe by the time Ironman Lake Tahoe rolls around, I’ll have a 6-pack. (That would be so awesome.)
I signed up for this event with the understanding that “2013 is the year of the Ironman.” I would push other things like volunteering and vacations aside to focus on this single goal. I have that luxury. My job is stable with consistent hours, I don’t have children or encumbrances on my off-hours. This is the perfect moment.
Funny though, non-Iron life didn’t stop when I made that decision. As committed as I am, there is still juggling to do.
Balance doesn’t mean leaning forward, eyes straight ahead, 45-degree tilt toward the goal. Balance means twitching all those small muscles back and forth, a little here to compensate for a gust of wind, a little there to adjust for uneven terrain, an unending process of give and take.
In a normal week, I am at work or training or home resting. That kind of week means saying no to other options. This week, I said yes more than no. I said yes to building relationships and experiencing the world and taking chances.
I said yes to lunch with new project group members at work instead of reading my (very interesting!) book at my desk.
I said yes to a teammate’s invitation to dinner even though I was tired and worried about a late night.
I said yes to a date, even though it meant skipping a workout (and even though I don’t think he’ll get another one).
I said yes to an event that involved public dancing in the streets in daylight because I believe in the cause, even if the cause made me cry in the streets as well.
Core strength is all about pulling back when you feel yourself leaning too far. This was a YES week, but it may be time to recharge. In the name of balance (and mental health), I may say a few more NO’s next week, and spend some quality time on my own, and refocusing on my goal.
My core is getting so strong! Maybe by the time Ironman Lake Tahoe rolls around, I’ll have a 6-pack. (That would be so awesome.)
Week 14 Mileage
Tuesday, February 12 Spin – 60 minutes Sufferfest – Angels Wednesday, February 13 Run – 40 minutes Core – 30 minutes Booted off the track for a soccer match, did hill repeats instead. Thursday, February 14 Swim – 1 hour 10 minutes, 3300 yards Marker: 2800 yards in 60:10 Friday, February 15 Rest Day Saturday, February 16 – Coached Swim – 27 minutes, ~1200 yards (2 loops) Run – 1 hour 37 minutes, 10.7 miles (AP to Vista Point, 8/1 run/walk) Core – 35 minutes Sunday, February 17 – Coached Bike – 2 hours 30 minutes, 35 miles Marker Set: 3 Bears Loop, 18 miles in 1:10 (shaved 6 minutes off last marker, but spent 10 minutes "resting" with a teammate who crashed at 40 mph on Papa Bear, ouch!) | Totals: Swim - 1 hour 40 minutes, 4500 yards Bike - 3 hours 30 minutes, 35 miles Run - 2 hours 20 minutes, 10.7 miles Core - 1 hour 5 minutes Total - 8 hours 35 minutes |