from the ground up...
owie.
*sigh*
this weekend was my first weekend back to marathon (or in my case half-marathon) training and full on triathlon training.
first official week. weekend...
and i'm not gunna lie. it kinda sucked.
but in that sort of sick and twisted way that made it still enjoyable.
KC MultiSport, my preferred multi-sport club in the greater kansas city area (heh. i love plugging) has started a saturday morning 2-hour spin opportunity for those athelets out there foolish enough to want to participate.
and foolish i was.
although not until after a good rehaul of my usual weekend routine.
saturday mornings 0% and i usually swim... thursdays are reserved for KCM's spinning hour of death, friday is crossfit, saturday swim, sunday cross, monday rest. but with the upcoming season of triathlon seemingly weeks away (perhaps months. i'm prone to over-exaggeration. it happens.
i mean no i'm not. what? shut up....)
*ahem*
anyway...
with the upcoming season of triathlon and my complete incompetence on the bike, i figured a 2-hour spinning session saturday mornings might be worth taking a look at. so i bumped the swim to friday night, spun... span? spinned?... saturday morning, and saturday night, at a little ladies night soiree, made the mistake of verbally outlining my future weekend plans.
"yeahhh.. i think i'm going to run on sunday's after crossfit. i really need a long weekend run day, so i think that's my plan"
Tall Curly Girl chimed in with "oooh! me too! we can run together!!" mirrored by Homework Girl's enthusiasm and i knew i was in trouble.
oooh sh*t. training partners. that doesn't bode well for my lets-pretend-to-be-in-training-without-actually-doing-any-training training plan.
bollocks.
sunday morning at crossfit i'd all but forgotten my need to run after class (not really. but i was trying) and almost thought i was going to get away with not going until 0% mentioned meeting up at the gym later in the day.
damn 0% and her endless energy supply. how will i ever procrastinate through my training with her around?!
but, without having the "i'm too busy" excuse to cop-out with i showed up... and ran.
5 minutes into my run i was exhausted. my legs were tired, my shoulders hurt from that morning's crossfit workout
(i did 100 push-ups sunday. one. hun. dred. among other things, but... 100!
i just wanted to throw that out there.)
and i realized, just like every time before...
there's no short cut to training... especially the run. every time i start, i have to start all over again. and as frustrating as that is. as much as i wish the biking and the swimming would automatically make me a 10 minute miler, i know it doesn't.
but at the same time.. there's something almost comforting in that knowledge.
i get to rebuild my relationship with running this year. with training in general. and maybe, hopefully.. i'll do it the right way.
so this weekend was step one.
a long, tiring, somewhat painful step, but a step.
and, lets face it... every great journey begins with a step!
Comments
BAHHHH girl, you are a f*$king diehard training machine!! YOU ARE A TRAINING ANIMAL! you are giving me motivation to start my triathlon training...TODAY! spin class here i come. hope my vag doesn't yell and scream in pain!
Posted by: Kim | February 5, 2007 03:38 PM
Good luck starting the running again! And 100 pushups? I can do two. Girly style.
My training partner is as much of a slacker as I am. I think the only reason we ever actually swim is because we make promises like "Okay, if we swim a mile, then we get to go have Mexican food and margaritas (thus negating every calorie burned in the pool)."
Posted by: Danielle in Iowa | February 5, 2007 05:36 PM
100 PUSH UPS!
I would die - DIE!
As for biking and swimming helping your running - it will! I just ran a 1/2 Marathon at a pace that is 1 min/mile faster than my standard long distance pace and I haven't been running much at all for the last 3 months.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: 21stCenturyMom | February 5, 2007 07:46 PM
You got it. There are no shortcuts. It is all about the miles. The "trials of miles" as Once a Runner said.
Joe B.
Posted by: Joe B | February 5, 2007 07:55 PM
That is so correct... no short cuts in life what.so.ever. Yep. Way to get out there and get started! I can't wait to hear about this weeks training!
Posted by: Teacherwoman | February 5, 2007 09:49 PM
i'm a big fan of the short cut....but unfortunately, there aren't many in this sport.
Posted by: TJ | February 6, 2007 05:59 AM
Enough whinning, just get out and do it. No short cuts to training and think how fit you will look for army guy when he gets back in town.
Yes it is cold or dark or whatever, just have to do it and go run, swim and bike.
Posted by: Kurt | February 6, 2007 09:00 AM
(who's whining? She DID get out there and do it. Re-read post.)
isn't spinning grand? Although, did you actually say 2 hours? eeek! my class if 45 minutes and i pretty much always want to hurl during it. but the instructor is too cute.
I'm impressed. and yes, running ... it's hard. i think harder than anything. no shortcuts is right.
i'm impressed you have partners! Do they wait for you? I think i'm gonna need partners. Or batteries. something.
you are doing GREAT!
Posted by: jeanne | February 6, 2007 09:17 AM
Congrats on your first steps into a great sport and experience.
Posted by: walchka | February 6, 2007 09:45 AM
100 push ups! You rock girl, I wish there was a crossfit gym around here.
Welcome back to running AJ, there is no substitute.
Posted by: Bob | February 6, 2007 11:21 AM
it's so weird. i feel as though you write my thoughts when it comes to things training-related.
Posted by: eddie | February 6, 2007 01:20 PM
You just made my 32 push-ups that I did yesterday look like a woosie-girl. :( Way to go!
Posted by: Denise "Firefly" | February 6, 2007 08:53 PM
100 pushups is very very good. great post, too.
Posted by: massoman | February 6, 2007 09:00 PM