Training Day 1

For some people, a big goal, such as an Ironman might be daunting. I am not afraid though! I don't expect to go out and be able to complete it in a matter of weeks or even just a couple of months. I don't want to rush things for fear of injury. Instead, I intend to take small baby steps towards accomplishing my goal. I guess I see the Ironman as the grand picture and all the days of training just small pixels that make up the whole.

I have a lot going on in my life, being a mother to four small boys all under the age of 10, so finding time to train is rough to say the least. I actually spent quite a bit of time working and reworking schedules recently so I could figure out where to fit training (and everything else I need to get done) into my schedule. I am fortunate to have access to a daycare center at the community gym at a very reasonable price ($35/month for 2 hours a day).

So, I put my youngest son in the daycare at the gym and carefully snuck into the bathrooms to change. I slipped into my black and pink suit, pink swim cap and wrapped myself up in my towel. It was 47 degrees out, and our pool is outside, but it is heated, and I am determined.

The lifeguard sat wrapped up in her blanket on the stand while a woman in a wetsuit and another gentlemen and I swam in the pool. We must be the only ones crazy enough to swim this time of year. I warmed up with 50m breaststroke, then I swam 50m freestyle, another 50m breastroke and took a break at the end of the pool. I felt rather out of shape. Determined though I repeated that sequence once more.

Then, I got out of the pool and turned into a popsicle as I returned to the bathrooms to change back into my gym clothes and escape up to the treadmills. I drank some water as I walked up the stairs, put my bag down and there it was, the last open treadmill, and it was calling my name. I walked/jogged for 20 minutes, then I called it a day.

All-in-all, I think things are starting off well, and I feel accomplished!