Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Race Rinse Repeat
There is never a day that goes by that I don’t have to stop and take a breath and wonder how I am going to continue to do all of this. ALL OF THIS being work full time, be a devoted mom and wife and continue to train for marathons and triathlons. Yet, somewhere in the back of my brain I still have IM dreams. When I am bored at night I look up training plans and wonder if I could ever do it. I watch Kona videos and think I could be an Ironman, surely I could. But who has the time!?!
I love to run. I truly do. I spend way too much money on races and deprive myself of sleep to run, but I can’t lie. I am really looking forward to my two marathons being over. I am ready to immerse myself in HIM training. One big reason is I won’t have to suffer through many outdoor winter runs. Mostly I will be tucked safely inside on my trainer watching trashy reality tv or swimming at the gym. But also I secretly am hoping tri training will do for my body what running never has. I weigh too much and my weight has been creeping up. How can my weight go up as my mileage does. It’s so frustrating and it’s not just muscle b/c my belly is hanging over my jeans right now. Ugh.
I really hate to spend the money but Gary just got a brand new amazing Jamis bike and I am now drooling over it. I want a carbon road bike so bad and I have my eye on two that are just incredibly good deals. They are a year old, so the price has dropped drastically. I know I shouldn't do it, that my 2003 Jamis Ventura is just fine, but I want it! So, I may be getting a new bike soon. At least it should be motivation to stay on my trainer for hours this winter. The picture is of the bike I will probably get, the other option is a Specialized Ruby Compact.
So what about you, how do you do it? How do you fit it all in? Sometimes I wish I was just a gym rat who didn’t have all these racing needs, like certainly would be easier. But would it be as much fun?
I love to run. I truly do. I spend way too much money on races and deprive myself of sleep to run, but I can’t lie. I am really looking forward to my two marathons being over. I am ready to immerse myself in HIM training. One big reason is I won’t have to suffer through many outdoor winter runs. Mostly I will be tucked safely inside on my trainer watching trashy reality tv or swimming at the gym. But also I secretly am hoping tri training will do for my body what running never has. I weigh too much and my weight has been creeping up. How can my weight go up as my mileage does. It’s so frustrating and it’s not just muscle b/c my belly is hanging over my jeans right now. Ugh.
I really hate to spend the money but Gary just got a brand new amazing Jamis bike and I am now drooling over it. I want a carbon road bike so bad and I have my eye on two that are just incredibly good deals. They are a year old, so the price has dropped drastically. I know I shouldn't do it, that my 2003 Jamis Ventura is just fine, but I want it! So, I may be getting a new bike soon. At least it should be motivation to stay on my trainer for hours this winter. The picture is of the bike I will probably get, the other option is a Specialized Ruby Compact.
So what about you, how do you do it? How do you fit it all in? Sometimes I wish I was just a gym rat who didn’t have all these racing needs, like certainly would be easier. But would it be as much fun?
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About Me
- Mnowac
- distance runner attempting to run a marathon in every state, vegetarian foodie, mediocre triathlete, sucky swimmer, mommy to Harper, tea lover, coffee drinker, animal saver, hubby snuggler, race addict, full time working 31 year old living in cleveland
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4 comments:
I have come to the conclusion that I will not be competing in another Ironman until Lucy goes to college. Even if I wasn't working full time, I think it would be to much. Your entire weekend is devoted to training.
I am, however, going to do a HIM in June 2011. I can't wait! I really think that the HIM distance is the best.
Have you ever thought about reducing your mileage and doing more cross training? I know MULTIPLE people that did that and PR'd at their marathon. One friend BQ'd doing that.
I only focused on HIM training this spring and summer, and somehow set a PR in every running distance (4 mile, 10k, 10 mile, 13.1)this summer except the 5k (but that might be in part because I haven't run a 5k this summer.) :) I really think the cross training helped me - (like your friend Chelsea mentioned.
As for "doing it all," I wish I knew how to do it. I'm not even working outside of the house, but I'm not sure if I have time to train for the whole 140.6. I feel bad having my husband have to miss his training time to be with our boys while I'm out doing my training.
I'd really like to figure out how to do the 140.6 though! I might be like Chelsea with that, too - waiting until my boys go to college!
I got nuthin' on how to do it all...sorry! I am frantic and lucky to stay one day ahead of the game. :)
I really believe anyone can do an Ironman if they put their mind to it and are willing to do the training. You COULD do it--there is no doubt in my mind. But the real question you must ask yourself is, are you willing to do the training? Think repeated 5-6 hour bricks on Saturdays and long runs Sunday...feeling pretty freaking tired most of the time, too. It's definitely rough. I don't know how people with little kids do it--I have HUGE respect for anyone that can IM with little kids. I suppose I could do it again soon, but I have absolutely NO desire to. The way I see it, my kids will only want me around for a few years here...then that's gone and it ain't comin' back. :) So I think I'm putting IM on the back burner until my kids have stuff of their own to do. But I LOVE ME the 70.3 distance. Oh, and I second Kim--I have set every PR I have except my 5K (but was close!) during 70.3 training. Go for it, girl! :)
umm, ditto to everything you wrote here! I have these grand schemes of working up to the IM distance just in time for both my kids to be back in school, but hmmm, that's also the timeline for me to update my art skillset so that I can have a career in place when they're older. And how am I supposed to buy one of those purdy bikes without a job first? So many irons on the fire!
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