Two months ago, I registered for an Olympic-distance triathlon that will take place in July.
I’ve been training five days a week since then: one short and one long workout in each event (swimming, biking, running) each week, increasing the duration of each workout by 10% on subsequent weeks. Every fourth week is a recovery week, where the durations are 60% of the week before. I’m six months out from the race, but I’m keeping to a grueling schedule and I haven’t missed a workout yet.
Because July’s triathlon will require me to swim 1500 meters, bike 26 miles, and run 6.2 miles in succession over the course of a Sunday morning.
It won’t matter what my body looks like. What will matter is whether my body can handle this physical test – whether I will have prepared it to do so.
I love to hear from friends who are pushing their bodies to do more. I don’t care what their bodies look like. What matters is what their bodies can do. When I exhort them, “You can do it!” it’s not because I think they should do it – whatever it may be – for any reason other than the pure triumph of accomplishing a lofty goal. A lofty physical goal.
I was never encouraged to pursue sports. I barely squeaked through the physical fitness tests and 1.5 mile runs necessary to remain in ROTC. Even when I began going to the gym regularly-yet-sporadically, I never had any goals in mind that didn’t involve a pair of jeans or a bathing suit.
I’ve found that working out with my size in mind doesn’t work for me. I get discouraged, or else I get lazy. But working out with an event in mind lights a fire under my ass like I never knew it could.
Furthermore, pursuing and accomplishing these lofty physical goals has imparted to me a healthier body image. I care far less about the number on the tag inside my jeans or the appearance of my naked reflection when I consider that I routinely swim more than 3000 meters, bike more than 40 miles, and run more than 10 miles in the course of a single week. That means far more to me than the readout on my scale.
However, there’s something to be said for decreasing the payload, so to speak. It’s easier to move a lighter, leaner body.
My greatest source of unnecessary calories is alcohol, even more so than chocolate. I don’t drink to relax or to cope or because I have a physical need for it. It’s simply become a habit – a habit I’ve already begun to change. I’m giving up alcohol for the month of January.
I’m curious to observe how it will affect my training, my weight, my sleep patterns, even my budget. If I can train as hard as I do now with a nightly drink or two, can I train even harder – with better results – if I’m not drinking? Will eliminating several hundred liquid calories from my diet each week have an impact on my size? Maybe I’ll be ready for bed earlier, sleep more easily, and wake feeling more refreshed.
As for my budget, all I have to do is take a look at my credit card statement to see that I’ll have more cash available at the end of the month – cash that I will happily put toward purchase of a road bike for myself.
Setting and achieving more lofty physical goals – that’s my 2010 New Year’s Resolution. Join me?
I know how that goes. My parents didn’t believe in organized sports. Sigh.
I’m going to *not*do that to my kids, and I’m working on getting it over it myself. Joined the Y. Running a 5k, I hope. For me, that’s a huge physical challenge. But if I’m doing it to make my jeans fit; I’m not motivated enough. So I’m going for events instead.
I am eliminating alcohol as well. I’m curious to see the effect, if any, on my weight. I hope it drops. I’m feeling discouraged that I gained back all the weight I’d worked so hard to lose.
My friend is training to compete in triathalons, a goal she has had since hearing that (in Australia at least) when you finish the Iron Man as you cross the finish line, regardless of where you finish, it is announced along with your name that you are an iron woman. I told my sister this and she has written it on a noticeboard in my house as a goal. My sister and I are aiming to compete in a few 5Ks this year and work our way up to some longer events. I agree with working to improve your overall fitness rather than to fit into certain clothes. I hope that fitting into those clothes is going to be an added bonus at the end. Good luck to you!
Getting into clothes I love and being stylish (which I desperately miss) has not served to motivate me in these past years. I have to say your post resonates with what I’ve been noticing/feeling lately. My body can’t do the things it used to be able to do–and that might be the spark I need.
As for alcohol, it’s not much of an issue with me. What I need to quit are my Diet Cokes. I recommend everyone stay very far away from me that week.
I love this. I keep toying with the idea of registering for one of the Team in Training or Susan G. Komen or other similar events — some are half marathons, others are biathlons, but all are about doing fund raising for a good cause. I figure that a goal like that might keep me motivated even when it’s not “convenient” to exercise. This post was wonderful to read because it confirms all that I’ve been thinking. Thanks for the inspiration! I hope your training continues to go tremendously well.
I could give up booze without batting an eyelash. But SUGAR?! That is scarier to me than committing to an Iron Man.
Guess that’s why i should do it, huh.
That is damn inpressive (all your training, and what the actual triathlon consists of).
I am sort of amazed at how my physical fitness has slunk down to a lowish priority since having kids (especially in winter). I used to solo backpack for frequent, extended trips. But my current intention is simply to get outside and walk as much as possible, and accept when it just doesn’t happen.
10K at the end of January
1/2 marathon in April
Marathon in July.
Last month I lost 20 pounds, which has helped my training significantly. A big part of the losing was giving up alcohol.
Good luck – looking forward to hearing about how the tri goes.
1/2 marathon in April with Gretchen
1/2 marathon in May with college friend to celebrate her 40th (and my 41st)
15K in October – goal of under 75 min (PR is 1:14:55)
1/2 marathon in November
My goals are time-goals this year. I had a PR in the 1/2 marathon in November and I would love to beat it if even by a few seconds. I am with Heather, I need to wean myself off sugar.
J, you are AMAZING. And it’s encouraging to hear that you are a “later athlete” re: not being encouraged to pursue sports. I didn’t do any sports as a kid because I was too busy being the uber-arts nerd (violin, theater, school newspaper) and didn’t learn I had any physical competence til grad school when I played with the grad soccer league.
My big thing is training for The Relay, and I’m enormously sad that your (and K’s) schedule didn’t work out to be a part of it. xoxo