truly training.
over the years i've read the blogs of several people as they train for various races and there always seems to be a point where each person struggles with two things..
food... or more specifically portion control, and ALWAYS being hungry.....
and cleaning.
finding time to do the dishes, the laundry, pick up after their kids/spouse/self, and generally lead a normal tidy life that doesn't involve making excuses like "i'm really sorry my house looks so trashed right now, its just that ______________ ".
i've read these blogs and read these statements and always sort of chuckled to myself. exaggerate much?! jeez...i'm sure its not that bad...
well, ladies and gents, i'm here to tell ya something....
IT. IS.
it is that bad. it is very much that bad.
between getting up and taking care of the puppy, getting myself dressed and off to work in time, coming home, walking the dog, feeding the dog, making sure the dog doesn't poop on me.... finding clothes that are semi-clean to workout in, getting to the gym, coming home and stuffing my face immediately, often, and with large quantities of food..
lemme tell ya...
it is that. bad.
i have absolutely no time what-so-ever to take my clothes from the various folded piles in which they lay on the floor (clean, mind you. my CLEAN piles of clothes).. and find space for them in the closet.
it is much easier for me to drape items over fans and chairs and bed posts than it is to find a hanger and align them neatly by color, by season, by style like some people do.
its also much easier and much more enjoyable to walk through the kitchen, pull out a bowl of fruit and graze than it is to reflect for the 20 seconds it would take for me to do so and think to myself.. huh. lots of fruit. lots of carbs. where's my fat? where's my protein?!..
because then when i DO decide to "think" its... ooh. that big serving bowl i use when guests come over.. i should just make my salad in THAT. and eat the ENTIRE THING. i'll get all my servings of everything then for SURE!
well, yeah. while i graze on some crackers and peanut butter AS i'm cooking, i'm getting all my servings...
AND THEN SOME.
i mean please.
it never ends.
i am always putting something in my mouth, while simultaneously stepping over something that needs to be picked up off the floor, usually on my way to the couch... FOR A NAP!
at this rate i'm going to be the fattest in shape person to ever attempt to finish her first half-ironman.
with a messy house and dirty laundry to boot!
GAH!
Comments
Been there done that, which is why all my athletic clothes are kept in buckets in the garage, separated only by swim, bike, run, and cold weather. Folding? GAH.
**sexist pig comment warning** The house is only clean because I have a wife. Maybe you could get one of those.
Posted by: greyhound | May 12, 2008 01:09 PM
I, too, am a bottomless pit. I eat like a beast during marathon training. Now that I am out of marathon training and into the 5k/10k season...I still eat like crazy. I often finish whatever meal I am eating, and then finish the rest from my husband's plate. I easily eat twice as much as he does any given day - and he has about 100 pounds on me!
I am one of the freaks who has their closet organized by season, color, and even sleeve length. But when it comes to my running clothes, I have one drawer with all my running gear - shorts, shirts, socks, hats, gels, ShotBloks, iPod, watches. It has been pretty helpful having one central location for all things running. I like Greyhounds buck method for the swim, bike run categories.
I haven't commented much - but I love your blog and love reading about Asher. I have a 3 year old mini dachshund who is my life, but I would love to get a Ridgeback or Viszla to take running with me. Emma the dachshund slows down to a crawl after a few miles - but I did win second place overall in a 2k with her once. Anyway, all that to say, I look forward to reading more about your training and Asher's exploits.
Posted by: Meredith | May 12, 2008 01:31 PM
haha oh man, totallys ounds like me! :) all my spring skirts are draped over my rocking chair, my workouts stuff is hanging on hooks in my bathroom... everything is tossed into drawers, mismatched and wrinkly.
and i make/eat nachos while im making/eating pasta. im disgusting!
Posted by: Kim | May 12, 2008 01:48 PM
And how guilty do we feel that we have this issue without the kids and the other adult around making time demands? That's my story, anyhow. How I ever trained for anything when I had kids at home is a total mystery.
Posted by: 21stCenturyMom | May 12, 2008 03:57 PM
I stumbled across your blog from Roadbunner's blog...it really motivates me to read other blogs of chicks who run and ride!
Posted by: Chantalle | May 12, 2008 09:47 PM
Amen! We are living parallel lives. :)
Posted by: MissAllycat | May 13, 2008 06:14 AM
I eat whatever I can get my hands on...doesn't everyone eat a random sampling of olives, cheese, granola and orange juice for dinner?
Posted by: alili | May 13, 2008 07:18 AM
The real problem is when you stop training. Your body still wants to eat like a fiend, but you aren't burning 3,000 calories every day with exercise.
Posted by: Megan | May 13, 2008 09:25 AM
amen sista!
the eating is way out of control and the house...well, thank god I have a house keeper who comes once per week! My clothes are in piles and draped over various pieces of furniture, but at least the bathrooms and kitchen are clean!
I haven't picked up my drycleaning in 3 weeks either....
Posted by: Tiggs | May 14, 2008 12:45 PM
amen sista!
the eating is way out of control and the house...well, thank god I have a house keeper who comes once per week! My clothes are in piles and draped over various pieces of furniture, but at least the bathrooms and kitchen are clean!
I haven't picked up my drycleaning in 3 weeks either....
Posted by: Tiggs | May 14, 2008 12:46 PM