Swim Sabotage?

Last week was frustrating. I had planned to get multiple days in the pool but it just did not turn out that way. First off work is pretty demanding right now, but it will be much better in the next week as 2Q has to be wrapped up this week. On Mon - worked through lunch, Tuesday worked through lunch. Wednesday swam (yay!). Thursday at lunch TRIED to swim and the pool was closed? WTH? Just my luck some lightbulb exploded and they had to drain, clean and re-fill the pool at the downtown Y.  I then tried Thurs. evening at my local Y by where I live and of course there was a class in the lap lanes from 7-8p and childcare closes at 8pm. Last week was frustrating to say the least. I even brought my bike to my parent's house over the weekend to get in a country ride and the cold front came early and Saturday brought rain. I just can't get a break.

Ughhh! Parts of me wants to give up or just quit - but I have already made the commitment and I'm not normally a quitter. I may be ill prepared, I may have under-trained and I may be a complete vegetable on the couch after I complete this triathlon, but I'm not quitting and I'm gonna do it anyway, even if I come in dead last. 

I'm swimming as much at lunch as I can this week and have also hatched a plan to start bringing my bike to work with me so I can ride back and forth from the Y or just do a ride around  the lake at lunch, too. I will work enough training in somehow. I can't believe next week is April!! YIKES!

Just gotta keep moving forward without letting my worry or stress get to me, I just gotta do it and keep on going. 

Survived and Re-Energized.

Last week was SXSW in Austin, TX. Even though I did miss one day in the pool last week - overall I kept it together with my training. The best part was that I could get some bike riding in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday by taking my bike downtown and riding around during the festival. I took a few pics of my travels on my bike so I will share a few. The best part was not having to wait or sit in traffic. I could get around everywhere I needed on my bike since numerous streets were closed so it was fun getting around and since downtown has some pretty good hills, my hamstrings definitely got a work out. 

I wasn't the only one with the bike idea :)

So about 2,200 official bands converge upon Austin for a week and play at over 100 venues. It is definitely crowded with people and musicians. Here is a just a normal sight - bands carrying their gear from one place to the next. 

There were also pedicabs galore. I am sure the bars on 6th st and the pedicabs all made good money. I bet the bars made their entire year in one week. 

Here's a pic of a local pedicab owner pedaling around a customer

This was my first ever SXSW and it was a fun experience. I saw some bands, did a lot of people watching and still got some cycling in. I really forgot how much I enjoy live music and since half of the bands I saw were free to get in, it was definitely a win win. Now back to my normal life, training, routine and kids. I did miss my kids a bunch over spring break but they had fun with their dad and I got to recharge and fill my soul a bit. It was a win-win for everyone. 

I also went by Bicycle Sport Shop over the weekend and figured out all the gear I need to get equipped for my tri. I also drooled a bit looking at all the amazing bikes they have. One day at a time. I am going to get through this triathlon with my 1980's Univega and then make a way to get an amazing road bike later on this year. I just need to get through May 5, 2013 and we'll see what happens. 

Discouraged but still committed.

I still do not feel 100%. I have had some digestive issues and still do not feel normal. I have added a pro-biotic and other things to try and get regulated and normal but it still stinks. When I am not feeling great, it's so easy for myself to just throw up a list of excuses as to why I am not going to get in the pool or on the bike. The good news is I went yesterday and I was afraid because I took a few days off and I assumed I would be further behind, but that wasn't the case which is good. 

I am a little distracted this week because I have no kids and a ton of opportunities to be social and skip on the training. I'm in Austin, TX and it's SXSW this week - and there are free dinners, free events, and live music galore. Balance sure is a tricky thing. I want to still train and work in my swimming and biking but still see some great live music, too. As long as I can balance and feed my physical wants and also my social wants I will have a good week. If I do too much social activity I will feel guilty and be upset that I didn't train enough. To get my bike ride in this week I decided tomorrow I am going to ride the train and bring my bike - that way I can just get around downtown with my bike and not fight w/traffic at all. Riding my bike to swim at the Y will be fun, too. 

I also am struggling with joining a triathlon group or going on scheduled rides at my local bike shop. Even though I have worked through a lot of my own self-esteem issues, I am still self conscious - and I know if I show up on a ride, I tell myself the lie that I will be the only one without a $1k+ bike or cool gear and everyone will wonder why am I on this ride or that people will talk about me or whatever. I still don't know why I care what strangers think of me in the first place. I know those thoughts aren't true, but it still hinders me. Most people I have met or talked to that ride - don't care because they just love biking regardless. I will work up the courage eventually. I will also not beat myself up too much if I do indulge a little in social activity this week because most of my days are spent taking care of and spending time with my kids. If there is an evening event that pops up at work - I decline because my kids come first. 

Less than two months left - I just hope that I complete this thing and that I am not the last one on May 5, 2013. 

Sometimes I take my health for granted...

The past few days have not been that great for me, dealing with some stomach issues and totally not feeling 100%. I normally have a pretty strong immune system so this is not normal for me. I think sometimes I get knocked down in the health department to remind me to be grateful for my good health.  I did get my swim in on Tuesday and then felt just as bad yesterday with an upset stomach and blahness. I am also apprehensive about riding my bike on the major roads with cars for fear of an accident. One of my favorite tri bloggers is currently laid up with injuries thanks to a car not paying attention on the road. I guess this week has not  been that great for me. I won't get in the pool today because my son is having a school assembly to celebrate "Texas" this afternoon and he's excited about me being there. Of course I can't let my little guy down. I will have to push a swim to tomorrow or the weekend and just knock out a bunch of training next week since the kids will be with their dad. 

I haven't felt that great this week, but to stay on the positive side I did make sure I swam Tuesday even though I didn't really feel like it. Getting in the pool is half the battle for me. It's still so hard to see how my training is going to be enough - or that I will be able to do it at all on May 5, but I am still committed to showing up. 

Half of my battle is convincing myself I can do this - for me most of it is an inside job and I have made the commitment and I am going to keep on going even though I sometimes want to quit or stop or talk myself out of training. It's a struggle. What matters most is staying consistent even if I don't feel that great, doing it anyway. Gotta stay positive and keep going. One day at a time for me. 

Back in my element..

I got back on the bike today and boy did I need it. What a stress reliever for me today! My body now craves fitness or exercise to release my anxiety, stress or worries of my week. I have been enjoying learning something new, swimming but it's time to combine both and since I truly enjoy biking I was super excited to do the bike today and I will swim tomorrow. I live on a very popular bike street - even though the street is 60 mph there is a good sized shoulder and is perfect for cyclists. Even though I am afraid of some distracted driver accident or sharing the road with cars I braved the road until I got to the park with protected trails. Brushy Creek Lake Park is where I started.  The park is really good and I'm excited about it being just down the road. If I don't feel like riding on Parmer Ln, at least I know I can have a nice view on the hiking/bike paths and as soon as I get a trailer for my bike I will ride with the kids there, too. 

Not only do I enjoy biking but nature as well. I like how they combined the old rail bridges with the park and it's a cool place to ride. 

I also came across the funniest sign and got a laugh - like who is going to get off and walk their bicycle where there is a grade - that is the most fun part! haha. 

As far as my ride went, it was great aside from the few things that happened to try and prevent me from getting in a good ride. I totally banged up my knee before I left by running into the side of my TV stand because I am just that clumsy. It is throbbing a bit now so I should probably take some Advil. I also need to get a good pair of riding glasses, not because of the sun but because of - the gnats! I had to ride with my head down to shield myself from getting gnats in my eyes, nose and mouth. At some points it just felt like someone just dropped a bucket of gnats on my head during the ride which was pretty annoying. 

Once I got home let's just say I was wiping dead gnats out of unmentionable places, yes I even found one in my eyelid. I hardly ever spend a lot of money on sunglasses to begin with because I'm kind of forgetful and have lost my fair share of expensive glasses. I suppose if I just get a pair only for riding I can be responsible enough to keep them in the right place until I ride. 

Here is another bridge/path along the way. I love nature and it was a really nice trail ride. 

I am also going to be pretty sore in the thigh area! I am not used to the hills that are in Austin as Dallas is pretty flat. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to work in my rides and swims but it seems to be working out so far so good. My kids will be with their dad during spring break and it's going to be really a big test for me because well, SXSW is happening during spring break and there will be so much temptation to go see live music instead of train. I just hope and pray I can work in enough of my training and still get to enjoy some up and coming bands. So happy to call Austin my new home :)